Ankle support

ABSTRACT

A DEVICE FOR MINIMIZING THE POSSIBILITY OF EXCESSIVE ANKLE STRAIN, COMPRISING AN ELASTIC MEMBER HAVING AN UPPER END CONNECTED TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE WEARER&#39;&#39;S LEG ABOVE THE ANKLE, AND A LOWER END CONNECTED TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE WEARER&#39;&#39;S FOOT BELOW THE ANKLE. THE RELAXED LENGTH OF THE ELASTIC MEMBER IS NO GREATER THAN THE DISTANCE BETWEEN ITS CONNECTIONS TO THE WEARER&#39;&#39;S LEG AND FOOT WHEN THE WEARER&#39;&#39;S FOOT IS IN ITS NORMAL POSITION, I.E., GENERALLY PERPENDICULAR TO HIS LEG, WHEREBY THE ELASTIC MEMBER BIASES THE OUTSIDE OF THE WEARER&#39;&#39;S FOOT UPWARDLY WHENEVER IT IS DISPOSED BELOW ITS NORMAL POSITION. THIS MINIMIZES THE POSSIBILITY OF ROLLING THE OUTSIDE OF THE FOOT UNDER, AND THUS PLACING EXCESSIVE STRAIN ON THE ANKLE, PARTICULARLY WHEN LANDING AFTER A LEAP. THE LOWER END OF THE ELASTIC MEMBER IS PREFERABLY CONNECTED TO THE SOLE   OF A SHOE ADJACENT THE OUTER EDGE THEREOF. THE UPPER END OF THE ELASTIC MEMBER MAY BE CONNECTED TO AN ANKLE STRAP, OR TO THE TOP OF A SHOE EXTENDING ABOVE THE WEARER&#39;&#39;S ANKLE. THE DEVICE INCLUDES INEXTENSIBLE MEANS FOR LIMITING EXTENSIONS OF THE ELASTIC MEMBER, THEREBY LIMITING THE DEGREE TO WHICH THE OUTSIDE OF THE WEARER&#39;&#39;S FOOT CAN BE TURNED UNDER FROM ITS NORMAL POSITION.

Oczt. 19; 1971 R. T. MARQUIS ANKLE SUPPORT Filed March 2, 1970 BY HISHTTORNEYS.

Hank/s, K/EcH, RUSSELL & KER/v United States Patent O 3,613,273 ANKLESUPPORT Richard T. Marquis, Rosemead, Calif., assignor of a fractionalpart interest to William J. Parker, San Gabriel, Calif.

Filed Mar. 2, 1970, Ser. No. 15,754 Int. Cl. A43b US. Cl. 362.5 N 6Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A device for minimizing thepossibility of excessive ankle strain, comprising an elastic memberhaving an upper end connected to the outside of the wearers leg abovethe ankle, and a lower end connected to the outside of the wearers footbelow the ankle. The relaxed length of the elastic member is no greaterthan the distance between its connections to the wearers leg and footwhen the wearers foot is in its normal position, i.e., generallyperpendicular to his leg, whereby the elastic member biases the outsideof the wearers foot upwardly Whenever it is disposed below its normalposition. This minimizes the possibility of rolling the outside of thefoot under, and thus placing excessive strain on the ankle, particularlywhen landing after a leap. The lower end of the elastic member ispreferably connected to the sole of a shoe adjacent the outer edgethereof. The upper end of the elastic member may be connected to anankle strap, or to the top of a shoe extending above the wearers ankle.The device includes inextensible means for limiting extension of theelastic member, thereby limiting the degree to which the outside of thewearers foot can be turned under from its normal position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates in general toa device for minimizing the possibility of excessive ankle strain whenlanding after a jump or leap, particularly in sports such as basketball,football, tennis, and the like.

After a leap into the air, there is a tendency to relax the musclescontrolling the ankles as one descends. Under such conditions, a landingon the outer edge of one foot can roll or turn the outer edge of thefoot under. This may impose excessive strain on the ankle, which issometimes sufficient to produce a severe sprain. Taping the ankles priorto participation in sports reduces the chance of excessive ankle strain,but also reduces the flexibility of the ankles. The same is true ofother prior ankle supports with which I am familiar.

SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF INVENTION In the light of the foregoingbackground, the primary object of the present invention is to provide anankle support or supporting device which minimizes the possibility ofexcessive ankle strain while minimizing interference with normal flexingof the ankle.

More particularly, the primary object of the invention relates to anankle supporting device which biases the outer edge of the foot upwardlytoward its normal position, i.e., upwardly toward a position wherein thefoot is generally perpendicular to the leg. Consequently, if the musclescontrolling the ankle are relaxed in descending after a jump, thesupporting device of the invention tends to displace the outer edge ofthe foot toward its normal position to minimize the possibility oflanding on the outer edge of the foot in such a way as to turn it underand perhaps sprain the ankle, which is an important feature of theinvention.

Another and important object of the invention is to provide an anklesupporting device which includes an ice elastic member, first connectingmeans for connecting one end of the elastic member to the outside of thewearers leg above the ankle, and second connecting means for connectingthe other end of the elastic member to the outside of the wearers footbelow the ankle. Another object is to provide a device wherein therelaxed length of the elastic member is no greater than, and preferablyless than, the distance between its connections to the wearers leg andfoot when the wearers foot is generally perpendicular to his leg, i.e.,when the wearers foot is in its normal position. With this construction,the elastic member biases the outside of the wearers foot upwardlyWhenever it is disposed even slightly below its normal position.Consequently, if the wearer lands with the muscles controlling his anklerelaxed, the elastic member displaces the outside of the wearers footupwardly to, or nearly to, its normal position to minimize thepossibility of excessive ankle strain upon landing. Thus, this elasticmember acts as an involuntary muscle tending constantly to restore theoutside of the wearers foot to its normal position, but capable of beingovercome by the wearers own muscles in walking, running, jumping, or thelike, which are important features of the invention.

Another object of the invention is to provide an ankle supporting deviceof the foregoing nature including inextensible means for limitingextension of the elastic member, thereby limiting the extent to whichthe outside of the foot can turn under. A related object is to provide adevice wherein the inextensible means comprises an inextensible membercoextensive with the elastic member and secured at its upper and lowerends to the wearers leg above the ankle and to the wearers foot belowthe ankle, respectively. The taut length of this inextensible membercorresponds to the maximum permissible distance between the points ofconnection to the wearers leg and foot, and is so selected as to furtherreduce the possibility of having the outside of the foot roll under uponlanding after a leap.

Still another object of the invention is to employ the ankle supportingdevice of the invention in conjunction with a shoe by suitablyconnecting the lower end of the elastic member to the sole of the shoeadjacent the outer edge thereof. Related objects in connection withdifferent embodiments of the invention are to connect the upper end ofthe elastic member to an ankle strap, or to the top of a shoe extendingabove the wearers ankle. In the latter event, the ankle supportingdevice of the invention is preferably built into the shoe, which isanother object of the invention.

The foregoing objects, advantages, features and results of the presentinvention may be attained with the exemplary embodiments of theinvention described in detail hereinafter and illustrated in theaccompanying drawing.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shoe having the ankle supportingdevice of the invention built thereinto; and

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the ankle supporting device of theinvention connected to a shoe and to an ankle strap.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 7 OF THE INVENTION Referringinitially to FIG. 1 of the drawing, illustrated therein is a shoe 10having an ankle supporting device 12 of the invention built thereinto.The shoe 10 is of the type having an upper 14 which extends upwardlyfrom its sole 16 to a point above the wearers ankle.

The ankle supporting device 12 is located on the outside, i.e., theouter side, of the shoe 10 and includes an elastic member 20 of anysuitable material connected at its upper end to the upper 14 of the shoeabove the wearers ankle, and connected at its lower end to the sole 16below the ankle. Any suitable connecting means for the upper and lowerends of the elastic member 20 may be used. For example, the elasticmember may be sewn, bonded, or otherwise secured to the shoe at thelocations specified.

The ankle supporting device 12 also includes an inextensible member 22coextensive with the elastic member for limiting extension of theelastic member.

In the particular construction illustrated, the built-in anklesupporting device 12 is concealed between the upper 14 and an innerliner 24. However, this is not essential.

The relaxed length of the elastic member 20 is no greater than thedistance between its connections to the upper 14 and the sole 16 whenthe wearers foot is generally perpendicular to his leg, i.e., when thewearers foot is in its normal position relative to his leg, as shown inFIG. 1 of the drawing. Preferably, the relaxed length of the elasticmember 20 is less than the distance between its connections to the upper14 and the sole 16 under such conditions, so that it is in at least sometension when the wearers foot is in its normal position.

Considering the operation of the ankle supporting device 12, the elasticmember or involuntary muscle 20 can be overcome by the wearers ownmuscles in walking, running, jumping, or the like, so that the elasticmember does not interfere with normal ankle flexing. However, if themuscles controlling the wearers ankle relax in descending after a jump,for example, the elastic member 20 displaces the outside of the wearersfoot upwardly into or toward its normal position whenever it is disposedbelow such position. Thus, any tendency for the wearer to land on theoutside of his foot is minimized to minimize the chance of rolling orturning the outside of his foot under upon landing. As will be apparent,this minimizes the pos sibility of excessive ankle strain, and thusminimizes the chance of spraining the ankle, which is an importantfeature of the invention.

As will also be apparent, the inextensible member 22 limits theextension of the elastic member 20 and thus further guards against thepossibility of landing on the outside edge of the wearers foot to such adegree as to potentially strain the ankle excessively.

Turning to FIG. 2 of the drawing, illustrated therein is an existingshoe 30 having an ankle supporting device 32 of the invention appliedthereto. In this case, the ankle supporting device 32 is located on theoutside of the upper 34 of the shoe 30 and is suitably secured at itslower end to the outside of the sole 36 of the shoe, as by bonding, orotherwise.

The device 32 includes an elastic member 40 and a coextensiveinextensible member 42 respectively corresponding to the elastic andinextensible members 20 and 22. The upper ends of the elastic andinextensible member 40 and 42, instead of being secured to the upper 34of the shoe 30, are secured to an ankle strap 44 which encircles thewearers leg above the ankle and which may be adjustably tightened by abuckle means 46. Alternatively, the ankle strap 44 may be adjustablytightened by a lace, not shown, or in any other suitable manner. Also,

4 the ankle strap 44 may have any desired construction, that shown beingintended as illustrative only.

Preferably, the elastic member is adjustable as to length, both toadjust its efiectiveness initially, and to readjust its tension if itstretches permanently with time. Thus, the member 40 comprises two partsand 52 interconnected by an adjustable fastening means 54. The lattermay comprise interengageable Velcro hook-type fasteners 56 and 58respectively connected to the parts 50 and 52 of the member 40.

The operation of the ankle supporting device 32 is substantially thesame as that of the device 12 so that a detailed description is notnecessary.

Although exemplary embodiments of the invention have been disclosedherein for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that variouschanges, modifications and substitutions may be made in such embodimentswithout departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by theclaims which follow.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device for minimizing the possibility of excessive ankle strain,the combination of:

(a) an elastic member;

(b) first connecting means for connecting one end of said elastic memberto the outside of the wearers leg above the ankle; and

(c) second connecting means for connecting the other end of said elasticmember to the outside of the wearers foot below the ankle.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein the length of said elasticmember in its relaxed condition is no greater than the distance betweenits connections to the wearers leg and foot when the wearers foot isgenerally perpendicular to his leg, whereby said elastic member biasesthe outside of the wearers foot upwardly whenever it is disposed belowthe position it occupies when the wearers foot is generallyperpendicular to his leg.

3. A device set forth in claim 2 including inextensible means forlimiting extension of said elastic member.

4. A device according to claim 2 wherein said first connecting meansincludes an ankle strap and said second connecting means includes aconnection to the sole of a shoe adjacent the outer edge thereof.

5. A device as defined in claim 2 wherein said first connecting meansincludes a connection to the top of a shoe extending above the wearersankle and said second connecting means includes a connection to the soleof the shoe adjacent the outer edge thereof.

6. A device as defined in claim 2 including means for adjusting therelaxed length of said elastic member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,283,335 10/1918 Shillcock 36-252,972,822 2/1961 Tanner 362.5 3,327,410 6/1967 Park et al. 362.53,234,667 2/1966 Bovay 36-25 PATRICK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION October 19, 1971 PatentNo. 3 61 3 273 Dated Richard T. Marquis Inventor(s) It is certified thaterror appears in the above-identified patent and that said LettersPatent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the heading to the printed specification, line 4, "William J. Parker"should read J. Parker Williams Signed and sealed this 6th day of June1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

ROBERT GOTTSCHALK EDWARD M FLETCHER, JR. Attesting Officer Commissionerof Patents USCOMM-DC BO376-F'69 ORM PO-1U50 [10-59) a u s GOVERNMENTPRINYING orncs- Iss9 0-366-314

